Monday, December 23, 2013

My Neck is Not Meant to be Draped in Fabric

In mid-November I had to have surgery to remove a tumor from my neck (now you know why I did not post for so long).  I won't bore you with details, other than to say that the tumor was benign and  I am just fine now.  I am only telling you this as a segue into my dislike of wearing scarves.

I feared that after surgery my neck would be black and blue (based on having blood drawn from my arm...many times that tiny little needle leaves a big bruise).  Therefore, I assumed that when a surgeon takes a knife and cuts across my neck, it's not going to be pretty!  I had to go back to work immediately after the surgery, so I decided that I needed to buy some scarves.

I had about a three-week notice of this surgery. I immediately scoured my favorite clothing site (Coldwater Creek) and ordered just about every scarf I could find in the outlet. I went to Wally's World and grabbed what they had available.  This picture is about half of what I bought so that I would have something to cover my hideous post-surgery neck no matter what color of jacket I wore to work each day.


Other than for warmth with a winter coat, I have never worn scarves.  Since scarves are really "in" right now, I thought it was time to learn how to wear them.  I watched CC's video of something like "8 ways to tie a scarf".  I searched "scarves" on Pinterest.  The models looked great in their scarves.  I was getting excited about wrapping myself in yards of fabric (most of these scarves are longer than I am tall) and looking, oh, so chic.

Well, let me tell you, I was totally disappointed.  With the exception of the short infinity off-white scarf with the gold metallic circles, I hated all of these.  I think maybe scarves are only for tall thin people.  I felt like I was overwhelmed, choked, totally engulfed in these long skinny yards of fabric.

It took me less than a week to decide that I would rather flaunt my neck incision than to wear one of those hideous wrappings.  The incision looked much better than I anticipated right from the start--there was no bruising.  It was a bit red and swelled, but not all that repulsive.  I never thought to take a picture of it, until today. 

It has been 4 weeks since my surgery and because I  travelled 4.5 hours (one way for two weeks in a row) to have a very experienced surgeon at the University of Michigan hospital, my neck looks like this:

I am thrilled with the smallish cut and feel it looks way better than any of the dozen scarves I bought to try to hide it! 

I did order this scarf last week.


I have not received it yet, but I think it will be here tomorrow.  This one looks really quirky  and I am hoping that I will love it and be able to wear it in place of a necklace with blue jeans (weekend wear).  I no longer care if it hides the incision.
 
I have decided that my neck was made for short infinity scarves... ....or strands of 14K gold  :). 
 
Now I have to figure out what to do with all those long scarves.  Do you think they would work as table runners?  Anyone have any other ideas? 

10 comments:

  1. Zoey I am so happy that you're fine. Believe it or not you won't even see that scar after a while. I'm not really a scarf wearer either but have to admit they look really nice on people.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  2. So happy your surgery went well. Wear that scar proudly...no cancer...Yeah!!
    Joe and I joke about scarves. I tell him to wear one...all the "with it" men do you know. He has kidded around flauting a scarf in the house...acting silly....but not out of the house. I love the infinity ones too and that new one of yours looks so casual and cute...bet it will look great with jeans.
    Merry Christmas to a special online friend.
    Balisha

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  3. Glad to hear that your surgery went well and that there was no cancer! Wear your scar proudly. I rarely wear scarves and I had two surgeries on my neck that go from my Adams apple to my right ear. The scars barely show. They look like wrinkles in my neck. :)
    Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year,

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  4. Merry Christmas Zoey! So happy to hear you are fine. And you can hardly see the scar..no need to cover it up!

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  5. I always think scarves would be a great accent with my jeans and they hardly ever look right on me. Once in awhile one will work but I'm with you on the disappointment with most of them. As for the scar remember Elizabeth Taylor had one just like it. You can wear it proudly!

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  6. so glad your surgery went well....I can't wear scarves they bother me...I love seeing others wearing them though...love those new shoes...

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  7. Love your thoughts about scarves, and agree that scar is going to fade. I work at UM so I'm happy to hear your surgery went well and the scar is small and healing well. I follow you because I, too, am a gardener. Wishing you well and a very happy new year ahead.

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  8. I feel like a bad friend as I didn't even know you had surgery until I read this tonight! Glad all is well! Whew!
    I like scarves and tie them in different ways that I try myself or see on Pinterest.
    I enjoyed seeing your Christmas and snow photos.
    Happy New Year!

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  9. Don't feel bad, Dianne. I never mentioned it online until that post. :)

    I tried to reply to your comment, but it came back to me.


    I hope you have a great new year!


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  10. Table runners, sure. Maybe as pillow wraps for a bit of color? Or wait for spring and use them in quirky ways on the patio?

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